New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-20
AN EMPRESS's ORDER.
FOREIaN DRESS IN JAPAN.

FOREIGN DRESS IN JAPAN.
TOXIC, Japan, February 20.
Ever since the bright little empire OF Japan started
uvou the course Of modern progress Its rulers nave
lost no oppo, unity of springng surprises upon the
outside world Most Of these have proved to %
naturally and properly connected with denulto
system Of development, however contrary 10 inc
national traditions they may have originally appeared
The adoption of the Gregoran calendar, Tor example.
could have been undertaken only by q Governmene
thoroughly confident In its own strength ano We'll
assured of the docty of Its subjects IL was no
unwelcome to the of the people as any possible
change could be, but it Afforded striking evidence 0.
determination to bring the country into more oreos
accord with European and American ideas. Inc oraer
recurring oil Government officials to wear foreign
clothes seemed OF first arbitrary aud trivial put is
enforcement relieved the Japanese dplomatists rom
much OF the impertnent curiosity to which thcv had
been subjected and greatly smpiifed the conditions
of their intercourse with strangers. Each year mas
witnessed Innovations political well as social the
announcement of which excited general astonsh-
ment not to say anxiety. In almost every Instance
however, the measures have resulted satisfactorily
eapd the apparently experiments have turned OUT
to be short cuts in the direction OF pracca euu Suo
stantal reform.s
There are OCCASIONS nevertheless. when 1t seems i'm
possible to reconcile the Governments proceedings
with any rule OF discretion or sound Judgment
Ancient usages are assaed and Ovcrthrown not under
etr ",
ular welfare but, far as can be discovered from
some motive scarcely compatible with the countrys
true interests. movement OF peculiarly radical
sweep, to which person can attribute q sutcient
cause IL at this moment sgtong tho entire body OF
Japanese society throwing one sex into excitement
and bewilderment and spreading dismay through the
ranks OF the other The Empress has emerged from
her conventional secluson and. in q document with
certainly has precedent Ill Orientai history uas
signfed her will that the women OF the empire sha
put aside their customary dress-the oress Oh
their ancestors from time immemorial-and adept that
nj the remots West That O japanese Empress should
address her subjects on any topic Is marvellous
enough That the national costume should Dc her
TOPIC il more marvellous, and that she SHOULD recon-
mend this remarkable substitution Is most marvellous
of ALL In tact, however. her Majesty Is In no aTeos
sense responsible for the transaction It purely an
affair of State which has occupied the attention OF
that supreme circle of councillors known M the Dai
10 Kuwan tor at least five years fver since IooI
this austere assembiage has been industriousv ano
ardently studying the question OF dress REFORM mo
lbrares of the Senate House have been loaded with
fasb;on nrints and periodicals from Paris and the
ante chambers filed with mysterious structures OF wro
and yhalebone, the aspect OF which might nave awak
ened unfair suspicious that return TO the oaroares
M punishment by torture was contemplated. "hn@
evar NAV be tho underlying purpose OF the impending
loo. IL will not have been instiut without ample
collaboration The extent to which tho nVestlSatons
have been carried and the methods employed, would
form an amusing chapter OF Eastern Cour' roo"iuS
tho details could be unreservedy revealed
Whether the august gentlemen who govern Japan
hsld 1t beneath their dignity to appear ~ the orig
n,ors of The project or whether they doubted their
n authority in 40 delicate matter, must DO 'eit 70
coniecture Having decided what was TO DO done' they
took the discreet not altogether vaorous oi
communicating their intention through the mouth Oh
h Emnr,ss whose person Is dear to all In Japan and
wbvss words would be sure in almost any case 70 oom
n.od respsotful obedience. Her proclamation was
issued at the beginning OF this year. and before .nS
bodv festivities over the Indies oil the oapi'A
we're ryalling each other in the most extraVngahs
aorts TO conform to Its admonitlons Tho results OF
their struggles not yot apparent but goes WITH
ont .avina that they will make dreadful mess OF
'u.',L,n. and when the ne .y ordained fashion ex-
,onds all over the land the consequences will be dis
...,ro No.hinc could bs moro dainty. graceful and
hnnomior than the familiar garb OF the women OF
yo.n II not IN all particulars model OF con-
yenien,e and comfort IL u In thoSe tesPeote lar lar
por IN the STYLE by which II Is TO be replaced Inc
,raradom and ease which Its weaTers nave enJoycd
must now be exchanged Tor ooo''ran, ~ Tbey
cannot become accustomed for gehernuoh. hnoy
IN ot onIv suffer in the esh Themselves but viii 90
can.s Of suhering in the sprt TO Others Tor tnoy M
ha hidoous TO behold. The idea oil socon"oIaIns
49, trsmss 10 the incoming modes cannot Do gr"s"ea
b., than With many advantages ot iorm' eso,l"iiy
IN the upper part OF the body, tnev nave eo'Sai u
-. bicb viii be cruelty aggravated ny the uncon-
eots nice Not one In thousand will know how TO
III nor the peculiar gait which has been eStaousheo
| 81 by centuries OF hholt """S '"''''
=" ~, 49, "a they live Undoubtedly there may Do Ok
o,,ioIs hut every conversant with the supJec,
I how rare they must be. and can TESTIFY that tne
Serv nrettest of japanese girls IA apt TO oe trans
49, n mt an opish counterfeit of gentle humanity
La he arrays herself anything but the piiant a.a
,,sono native robes That the novel apparel VIII
! P aneented willingly and even With enthusiasm Is
20 ~ siblo for the OF fashion bas spe
', jascinaton which no woman IN any corner Oh .nc
- oan casily resist but II must be accepted ~ tho
coz, 81 tho mower to charm TOR many year To come
va ,r he men of Japan, there IA nothing mat can
-. tbo choure tolerable to them. In the hrst Pheo
| ,h, oxnanse will be n crushing weight HAN uokeh
| .,tnipo coatumes. though OF the m)st oomhonp'aco
',i, I'm would exhaust the revenue oil an Ordinary
Iasn tor year 1t may DO set down as certainty
r, lie rent majority will find 1t impractic"oie 10
e literally with the requirements OF the enlct.
S'y tore,s IN vestments being unattanaDie' some
ny srhsfitute must be devised. the effect OF %hch
ao sui nrSnably bo still more narrowing In the ingo
towna a II oderate number OF wealthy hesas o. 'r,, e
now snpply their household soddease' wh .no proper
may AID perhaps q suggestion OF the proper s'e.
ha.'i iii he a sorrow and shame to them 10 SEQ
but yss ard daughters thns srrayoc, especially on
theli , w. 81 ceremony. The European dress oil
Il an abomnation TO the eye OF all Japanese
rluu' their estimation a woman might a. wen APP
o ,ar naked before the public AS expose herself IN